H-O-H$-->$What$Really$Happened$in$Salem$in$1692?$

Transcription

1 NAME Course MS.POJER AHAP HoraceGreeleyH.S. Chappaqua,NY H-O-H$-->$What$Really$Happened$in$Salem$in$1692?$ BACKGROUND:, $ $ Therearemorethan850legaldocumentsandmanyotheritemswrittenin1692byparticipantsofthehysteria. Eventhoughthatnumberisnotastronomical,wehavemoredocumentaryevidenceabouttheSalemtrialsthanany otherwitchcraftoutbreak. Itistrue,however,thatthosewhorecordeventscan,bychanceordesign,skewthefactstotheirunderstanding ofthem.and,thosewhowereunabletorecordtheirsideofeventsremainsilentforever.historianstaketheprimary sources,acknowledgingtheirincompleteness,andstillattempttofindtruths.often,theoriesofwhythewitchcraft outbreaktookplacetellusmoreaboutthetimeinwhichthetheoristswritethanabouttheevents. MostoftheeventsofSalemwithregardtodates,peopleinvolved,andtestimonygivenarerecorded. Motives,agendas,secretthoughts,andpsychologicalquirksareveryelusive. SalemVillagein1692wascomprisedofthepresenttownofDanversaswellasmostofthetownofMiddleton andthecityofpeabody.accordingtoresearch,thepopulationofthevillagewasapproximately550peoplelivingin90 housesscatteredoveranapproximate20usquaremilearea.todaythepopulationofthosethreecommunitiesis approximately70,000. SalemTownproper,whichhadanareaofapproximately80Usquaremiles,hadapopulationof1,400personsin 1692.Todaythepopulationisapproximately38,000. YEARLY&EVENTS:& Document #1 1686WholeofNewEnglandthrowntogetherunderonegovernmentintheDominionofNewEngland. 1688GloriousRevolutioninEngland. 1680sU1690s 1689U1690SmallUpoxepidemic. 1690GreatBritainrevokestheMassachusettsBayCharterUU>thissuspendedthecourtsandabolished thelongstandingpuritantheocraticstate. MilitaryexpeditionagainstQuebecendsindefeat. 1691IndianattacksonborderofMassachusettsatBillerica. 1692YoungpeoplebelievedtobeprofaningtheSabbath. UUSirWilliamPhipsappointedgovernorofMABayandanewroyalcharteriscreatedinwhichthe governor,church,legislature,andcourtsareweldedtogetherinasinglereligiousandcivilgoverningbody. Document #2 Average&Size&of&Salem&Village&Landholdings,&1640@1700&(in&acres) 1640U180acres 1650U220acres 1660U235acres 1670U185acres 1680U155acres 1690U125acres 1700U113acres

2 Document #3 Source: FrontisSalem Witchcraft, 2 vols. (Boston, 1867).

3 Document #4 Source: Professor Benjamin C. Ray using a GIS computer software to plot Salem data on a map.

4 Document #5 Source: Professor Benjamin C. Ray using a GIS computer software to plot Salem data on a map Document #6 Declensionfromtheprimitivefoundationwork,innovationindoctrineandworship,opinionandpractice,an invasionoftherights,libertiesandprivilegesofchurches,anusurpationofalordlyandpoliticalpowerovergod's heritage,asubversionofthegospelorder,andallthiswithadangeroustendencytotheutterdevastationofthese churches,turningthepleasantgardensofchristintoawilderness,andtheinevitableandtotalextirpationofthe principlesandpillarsofthecongregationalway;thesearetheleaven,thecorruptinggangrene,theinfecting spreadingplague,theprovokingimageofjealousysetupbeforethelord,theaccursedthingwhichhathprovoked divinewrath,anddothfurtherthreatendestruction. Source: House of Deputies report on conditions in the Massachusetts Bay colony, 1670.

5 Document #7 OccasionedbydreadfulWitchcraftbrokeouthereafewweekspast,andoneMemberofthisChurch,and anotherofsalem,uponpublicexaminationbycivilauthorityvehementlysuspectedforsheuwitches,and uponitcommitted.john6:70."havenotichosenyoutwelve,andoneofyouisadevil."... Doctrine:OurLordJesusChristknowshowmanyDevilsthereareinhisChurch,andwhotheyare. 1.TherearedevilsaswellassaintsinChrist'sChurch. 2.Christknowshowmanyofthesedevilsthereare. 3.Christknowswhothesedevilsare. Proposition1:TherearedevilsaswellassaintsinChrist'schurch.Herethreethingsmaybespokento: (1)Showyouwhatismeantherebydevils; (2)Thattherearesuchdevilsinthechurch; (3)Thattherearealsotruesaintsinsuchchurches. (1).Whatismeantherebydevils?"Oneofyouisadevil."Answer:Bydevilisordinarilymeantanywickedangelor spirit.sometimesitisputfortheprinceorheadoftheexitspirits,orfallenangels.sometimesitisusedforvileand wickedpersonstheworstofsuch,whofortheirvillainyandimpietydomostresembledevilsandwickedspirits. ThusChristinourtextcallsJudasadevil:forhisgreatlikenesstothedevil."Oneofyouisadevil":i.e.,adevilfor qualityanddisposition,notadevilfornatureforhewasaman,etc.butadevilforlikenessandoperation(john 8:38,41,44"Yeareofyourfatherthedevil.") (2).Therearesuchdevilsinthechurch.Notonlysinners,butnotorioussinners;sinnersmoreliketothedevilthan others.sohereinchrist'slittlechurch.(text.)thisalsochristteachethusintheparableofthetares(matth.13:38), wherechristtellsusthatsucharethechildrenofthewickedonei.e.,ofthedevil.reason:becausehypocrites aretheveryworstofmencorruptio(optimi(est(pessimi.hypocritesarethesonsandheirsofthedevil,thefreeu holdersofhellwhereasothersinnersarebuttenants.whensatanrepossessethasoul,hebecomesmorevileand sinful(lukeii:24u26).asthejailerlaysloadsofirononhimthathathescaped.noneareworsethanthosewho havebeengood,andarenaught;andmightbegood,butwillbenaught... Proposition2:Christknowshowmanyofthesedevilsthereareinhischurches.Asinourtexttherewasoneamong thetwelve.andsoinourchurchesgodknowshowmanydevilsthereare:whetherone,two,three,orfourin twelvehowmanydevils,howmanysaints.hethatknowswhomhehaschosen(john13:18),healsoknowswho theyarethathavenotchosenhim,butpreferfarmsandmerchandiseabovehimandabovehisordinances(2tim.4: 10)... Source: Rev. Samuel Parris, March 27, 1692.

6 Document #8 On,Monday,the21st.ofMarch,themagistratesofSalemappointedtocometoexaminationofGoodwifeCorey. Andabouttwelveoftheclocktheywentintothemeetinghouse,whichwasthrongedwithspectators.Mr.Noyes beganwithaverypertinentandpatheticprayer,andgoodwifecoreybeingcalledtoanswertowhatwasalleged againsther,shedesiredtogotoprayer,whichwasmuchwonderedat,inthepresenceofsomanyhundredpeople. Themagistratestoldhertheywouldnotadmitit;theycamenottheretohearherpray,buttoexamineherinwhat wasallegedagainsther.theworshipfulmr.hathorneaskedherwhysheafflictedthosechildren.shesaidshedid notafflictthem.heaskedher,'whodidthen?'shesaid,'idonotknow;howshouldiknow?' Thenumberoftheafflictedpersonswereaboutthattimeten,viz.fourmarriedwomen:Mrs.Pope,Mrs.Putnam, GoodwifeBibber,andanancientwomannamedGoodall;threemaidsU.MaryWalcut,MercyLewes,atThomas Putnam's,andamaidatDr.Griggs's;therewerethreegirlsfromninetotwelveyearsofage,eachofthem,or thereabouts,viz.elizabethparris,abigailwilliams,andannputnam. TheseweremostofthematGoodwifeCorey'sexamination,anddidvehementlyaccuseherintheassemblyof afflictingthem,bybiting,pinching,strangling,etc.;andthattheydidintheirfitseeherlikenesscomingtothem,and bringingabooktothem.shesaidshehadnobook.theyaffirmedshehadayellowbirdthatusedtosuckbetwixt herfingers;andbeingaskedaboutit,ifthehadanyfamiliarspiritthatattendedher,shesaidshehadnofamiliarity withanysuchthing,shewasagospelwoman,whichtitleshecalledherselfby.andtheafflictedpersonstoldherah, shewasagospelwitch.annputnamdidthereaffirmthatonedaywhenlieutenantfullerwasatprayerather father'shouseshesawtheshapeofgoodwifecoreyandshethoughtgoodwifen,prayingatthesametimetothe Devil.ShewasnotsureitwasGoodwifeN.,shethoughtitwas,butverysureshesawtheshape,ofGoodwifeCorey. ThesaidCoreysaidtheywerepoor,distractedchildren,andnoheedtobegiventowhattheysaid.Mr.Hathorne andmr.noyesreplieditwasthejudgmentofallpresenttheywerebewitched,andonlyshe,theaccusedperson, saidtheyweredistracted. Itwasobservedseveraltimesthatifshedidbutbiteherunderlipintimeofexamination,thepersonsafflictedwere bittenontheirarmsandwristsandproducedthemarksbeforethemagistrates,ministers,andothers.andbeing watchedforthat,ifshedidbutpinchherfingers,orgrasponehandhardinanother,theywerepinched,and producedthemarksbeforethemagistratesandspectators.afterthat,itwasobservedthatifshedidbutleanher breastagainsttheseatinthemeetinghouse(beingthebaratwhichshestood),theywereafflicted.particularly Mrs.Popecomplainedofgrievoustormentinherbowelsasiftheywere,tornout.Shevehementlyaccusedsaid Coreyastheinstrument,andfirstthrewhermuffather,butthatnotflyinghome,shegotoffhershoe,andhit GoodwifeCoreyontheheadwithit.Afterthesepostureswerewatched,ifsaidCoreydidbutstirherfeet,they wereafflictedintheirfeet,andstampedfearfully. Theafflictedpersonsaskedherwhyshedidnotgotothecompanyofwitcheswhichwerebeforethemeetinghouse mustering.didshenothearthedrumbeat?theyaccusedherofhavingfamiliaritywiththedevil,inthetimeof examination,intheshapeofablackmanwhisperinginherear;theyaffirmedthatheryellowbirdsuckedbetwixt herfingersintheassembly;and,orderbeinggiventoseeiftherewereanysign,the,girlthatsawitsaiditwastoo latenow;shehadremovedapin,andputitonherhead,whichwasfoundtherestickingupright....shedeniedallthatwaschargeduponher,andsaidtheycouldnotproveherawitch.shewasthatafternoon committedtosalemprison;andaftershewasincustody,shedidnotsoappeartothemandafflictthemasbefore. Source: Deodat Lawson, clergyman, describing on his first day in Salem Village, 1692.

7 Document #9 Source: Matthew Hopkins, 17 c witch-hunter. His witch finder. His methods brought death to hundreds of women, men, and children in eastern England in the 1640s. Document #10 JUSTICE:&AnnPutnam,doththiswomanhurtyou? PUTNAM:Yes,sir,agoodmanytimes.(Thentheaccusedlookeduponthemandtheyfellintofits.) JUSTICE:Shedoesnotbringthebooktoyou,doesshe? PUTNAM:Yes,sir,often,andsaithshehathmadehermaidsetherhandtoit. JUSTICE:AbigailWilliams,doesthiswomanhurtyou? WILLIAMS:Yes,sir,often. JUSTICE:Doesshebringthebooktoyou? WILLIAMS:Yes. JUSTICE:Whatwouldshehaveyoudowithit?

8 WILLIAMS:TowriteinitandIshallbewell. PUTNAM&TO&MRS.&PROCTOR:Didyounottellmethatyourmaidhadwritten? MRS.&PROCTOR:Dearchild,itisnotso.Thereisanotherjudgment,dearchild.(ThenAbigailandAnn hadfits.byandbytheycriedout,''lookyou,thereisgoodyproctoruponthebeam." ByandbybothofthemcriedoutofGoodmanProctorhimself,andsaidhewasa wizard.immediately,many,ifnotallofthebewitched,hadgrievousfits.) JUSTICE:AnnPutnam,whohurtyou? PUTNAM:GoodmanProctorandhiswifetoo.(Someoftheafflictedcried,''thereisProctorgoingtotake upmrs.pope'sfeetandherfeetwereimmediatelytakenup.) JUSTICE:WhatdoyousayGoodmanProctortothesethings? PROCTOR:Iknownot.Iaminnocent. WILLIAMS:ThereisGoodmanProctorgoingtoMrs.Pope(andimmediatelysaidPopefellintoafit). JUSTICE:Yousee,theDevilwilldeceiveyou.Thechildrencouldseewhatyouwasgoingtodobeforethe womanwashurt.iwouldadviseyoutorepentance,forthedevilisbringingyouout. Source: The examination of Mrs. John Proctor as taken down by the Reverend Samuel Parris, Document #11 Ibelieve,thereneverwasapoorPlantation,morepursuedbythewrathoftheDevil,thanourpoorNewUEngland....ItwasarousingalarmtotheDevil,whenagreatCompanyofEnglishProtestantsandPuritans,cametoerect EvangelicalChurches,inacorneroftheworld,wherehehadreign'dwithoutcontrolformanyages;anditisa vexingeyeusoretothedevil,thatourlordchristshouldbeknown,andown'dandpreachedinthishowling wilderness.whereforehehasleftnostoneunturned,thatsohemightunderminehisplantation,andforceusoutof ourcountry.first,theindianpowawes,usedalltheirsorceriestomolestthefirstplantershere;butgodsaidunto them.touchthemnot!then,seducingspiritscametorootinthisvineyard,butgodsoratedthemoff,thatthey havenotprevail'dmuchfartherthanthe edgesofourland.afterthis,wehavehadacontinualblastuponsomeofourprincipalgrain,annuallydiminishinga vastpartofourordinaryfood.herewithal,wastingsicknesses,especiallyburningandmortalagues,haveshotthe ArrowsofDeathinatourWindows.Next,wehavehadmanyAdversariesofourownLanguage,whohavebeen perpetuallyassayingtodepriveusofthoseenglishliberties,intheencouragementwhereoftheseterritorieshave beensettled.asifthishadnotbeenenough;thetawniesamongwhomwecamehavewateredoursoilwiththe BloodofmanyHundredsofInhabitants...Besidesallwhich,nowatlasttheDevilsare(ifImaysospeak)inPerson comedownuponuswithsuchawrath,asisjustlymuch,andwillqu WhereforetheDevilisnowmakingoneAttemptmoreuponus:anAttemptmoreDifficult,moreSurprising,more snarl''dwithunintelligiblecircumstancesthananythatwehavehithertoencountered...anarmyofdevilsis horriblybrokeinupontheplacewhichisthecenter,andafterasort,thefirstubornofourenglishsettlements:and thehousesofthegoodpeopletherearefill'dwiththedolefulshrieksoftheirchildrenandservants,tormentedby InvisibleHands,withTorturesaltogetherpreternatural. Source: Cotton Mather, 1692.

9 Document #12 ConvictedandHanged:BridgetBishopGeorgeBurroughsMarthaCarrierMarthaCoreyMaryEasty SarahGoodElizabethHoweGeorgeJacobs,Sr.SusannahMartin RebeccaNurseAliceParkerMaryParkerJohnProctorAnnPudeator WilmottReddMargaretScottSamuelWardwellSaraWildesJohnWillard PressedtoDeathwithStones:GilesCorey AccusedWhoDiedinPrisonBeforeExecution:SarahOsbornRogerToothaker LyndiaDustinAnnFoster (AsmanyasthirteenothersmayhavediedinprisonUsourcesconflictastothe exactnumberofprisondeaths) Source: Court records of the town of Salem, Document #13 Crimes&the&Accused&Witches&Were&Convicted&of&Prior&to&1692& AssaultiveSpeech20 Theft10 Lying6 SexOffenses5 PhysicalAssault4 ResistingAuthority2 Arson1 Fraud1 Unspecified3

10 Document #14 Source: - American Historical Review, Vol 75 (June 1970), pp

11 Document #15 TheeldersandmessengersofthechurchesmetincouncilatSalemVillage,April3,1695,toconsider anddeterminewhatistobedoneforthecomposureofthepresentunhappydifferencesinthatplace, aftersolemninvocationofgodinchristforthisdirection,dounanimouslydeclareandadviseas followeth: Wejudgethat,albeitinthelateandthedarktimeoftheconfusions,whereinSatanhadobtainedamore thanordinarylibertytobesiftingofthisplantation,thereweresundryunwarrantableanduncomfortable stepstakenbymr.samuelparris,thepastorofthechurchinsalemvillage,thenunderthehurrying distractionsofamazingafflictions;yetthesaidmr.parris,bythegoodhandofgodbroughtuntoabetter senseofthings,hathsofullyexpressedit,thatachristiancharitymayandshouldreceivesatisfaction therewith. InasmuchasmanyChristianbrethreninthechurchofSalemVillagehavebeenoffendedatMr.Parrisfor hisconductinthetimeofthedifficultiesandcalamitieswhichhavedistressedthem,wenowadvisethem charitablytoacceptthesatisfactionwhichhehathtenderedinhischristianacknowledgmentsofthe errorsthereincommitted;yea,toendeavor,asfaras'tispossible,thefullestreconciliationoftheir mindsuntocommunionwithhim,inthewholeexerciseofhisministry,andwiththerestofthechurch (Matt.vi.12U14;Lukexvii.3;Jamesv.16)... V.HavingobservedthatthereisinSalemVillageaspiritfullofcontentionsandanimosities,toosadly verifyingtheblemishwhichhathheretoforelainuponthem,andthatsomecomplaintsbroughtagainstmr. Parrishavebeeneithercauselessandgroundless,orundulyaggravated,wedo,inthenameandfearofthe Lord,solemnlywarnthemtoconsider,whether,iftheycontinuetodevouroneanother,itwillnotbe bitternessinthelatterend;andbewarelestthelordbeprovokedtherebyutterlytodeprivethemofthose whichtheyshouldaccounttheirpreciousandpleasantthings,andabandonthemtoallthedesolationsofa peoplethatsinawaythemerciesofthegospel(jamesiii.16;gal.v.15;2samii.26;isa.v.4,5,6;matt.xxi. 43). VI.IfthedistempersinSalemVillageshouldbe(whichGodforbid!)soincurable,thatMr.Parris,afterall, findthathecannot,withanycomfortandservice,continueinhispresentstation,hisremovalfromthence willnotexposehimuntoanyhardcharacterwithus,nor,wehope,withtherestofthepeopleofgod amongwhomwelive(matt.x.14;actsxxii.18). AllwhichadvicewefollowwithourprayersthattheGodofpeacewouldbruiseSatanunderourfeet.Now, thelordofpeacehimselfgiveyoupeacealwaysbyallmeans. INCREASEMATHER,Moderator.NEHEMIAHJEWET. JOSEPHBRIDGHAM.NATHLL.WILLIAMS. SAMUELCHECKLEY.SAMUELPHILLIPS. WILLIAMTORREY.JAMESALLEN. JOSEPHBOYNTON.SAMUELTORREY. RICHARDMIDDLECOT.SAMUELWILLARD. JOHNWALLEY.EDWARDPAYSON. JER:DUMMER.COTTONMATHER. EPHRAIMHUNT. Source: The conclusion of the Massachusetts Bay Elders, 1695.

12 Document #16 "IdesiretobehumbledbeforeGodforthatsadandhumblingprovidencethatbefellmyfather'sfamilyintheyear about'92;thati,thenbeinginmychildhood,should,bysuchaprovidenceofgod,bemadeaninstrumentforthe accusingofseveralpersonsofagrievouscrime,wherebytheirlivesweretakenawayfromthem,whomnowihave justgroundsandgoodreasontobelievetheywereinnocentpersons;andthatitwasagreatdelusionofsatanthat deceivedmeinthatsadtime,wherebyijustlyfearihavebeeninstrumental,withothers,thoughignorantlyand unwittingly,tobringuponmyselfandthislandtheguiltofinnocentblood;thoughwhatwassaidordonebyme againstanypersonicantrulyanduprightlysay,beforegodandman,ididitnotoutofanyanger,malice,orilluwill toanyperson,forihadnosuchthingagainstoneofthem;butwhatididwasignorantly,beingdeludedbysatan. Andparticularly,asIwasachiefinstrumentofaccusingofGoodwifeNurseandhertwosisters,Idesiretolieinthe dust,andtobehumbledforit,inthatiwasacause,withothers,ofsosadacalamitytothemandtheirfamilies;for whichcauseidesiretolieinthedust,andearnestlybegforgivenessofgod,andfromallthoseuntowhomihave givenjustcauseofsorrowandoffence,whoserelationsweretakenawayoraccused. [Signed] Thisconfessionwasreadbeforethecongregation,togetherwithherrelation,Aug.25,1706;and sheacknowledgedit. J.$Green$Pastor. Source: Document #17 tsandwildermen,;yetsixtyyearslater,sitting manymilesfromthenearestfrontierintheprosperousseaboardtownofboston,cottonmatherandother survivorsoftheoldorderstillimaginedthattheywerelivinginawildernessaterritorytheyhadexploredas thoroughlyasanyfrontiersmen.butthecharacterofthiswildernesswasunlikeanythingthefirstsettlershadever seen,foritsdenseforestshadbecomeajungleofmythicalbeastsanditsskieswerethickwithflyingspirits.ina sense,thepuritancommunityhadhelpedmarkitslocationinspacebykeepingclosewatchonthewilderness surroundingitonallsides;andnowthatthevisibletracesofthatwildernesshadrecededoutofsight,thesettlers inventedanewonebyfindingtheshapesofthisforestinthemiddleofthecommunityitself. Andasthewildernesstookonthisnewcharacter,itseemedthateventheDevilhadgivenuphismore familiardisguises.henolongerlurkedintheunderbrush,formostofithadbeencutaway;henolongerassumed theshapeofhostileindians,formostofthemhadretreatedinlandforthemoment;henolongersentwavesof hereticstotroublethebay,formostofthemlivedquietlyundertheprotectionoftoleration;henolonger appearedinthearmiesofthecounterureformation,fortheoldbattlefieldswerestillandtoofarawaytoexcitethe imagination.buthispresencewasfelteverywhere,andwhenthecolonistsbegantolookforhisnewhidingplaces theyfoundhimcrouchedintheveryheartofthepuritancolony.quiteliterally,thepeopleofthebaybegantosee ghosts,andsoontheboundariesofthenewenglandwayclosedinonaspacefullofdemonsandincubi,specters andevilspirits,asthesettlerstriedtofindanewsenseoftheirownidentityamongthelandmarksofastrange, invisibleworld. Secondary Source: American Experiences, Vol. I (edited by Randy Roberts and James S. Olson, Scott, Foresman * Co., 1986), pg. 34.